More time needed in Coole murder case

Mullingar Advertiser, Fri, Apr 24, 2009

The DPP has requested more time to prepare the Book of Evidence in the case of a man charged with the murder of Westmeath man Brian McGrath in 1987.

State Solicitor Mr Peter Jones asked Mullingar District Court to adjourn the case of Colin Pinder (46 ), 38 Lorne Street, Liverpool 7, England, because “ongoing investigations regarding other suspects are being considered by the DPP”.

He requested a further six weeks adjournment for Mr Pinder who received High Court bail on his own surety of €1,000 on February 9.

Mr Pinder, who does not have an address in Ireland, consented to the delay. He is charged with the murder of Mr McGrath at Lower Coole, Coole, Co Westmeath on a date between March 16 1987 and April 4 1987.

Mr McGrath disappeared from his home in the spring of 1987 and bones believed to be his were found buried in a field near his home six years later.

Following DNA analysis of the bones which were exhumed from Whitehall cemetery in May of last year, the remains were identified as those of Mr McGrath. He was 43 when he disappeared.

Mr Pinder was arrested and charged at Dublin Airport on February 5 when he returned from England.

Judge John Neilan released him on continuing bail with the same conditions as laid down by the High Court to appear before Mullingar District Court on June 18.

Members of the Serious Crime Review Team attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, an anthropologist and pathologist, as well as Gardaí from the Mullingar area have been involved in the cold case investigation.